The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented the Kogi State governor -elect Alhaji Yahaya Bello with his certificate of return.
The development came just as the deputy governor -elect, Hon James Faleke, boycotted the event.
Prof Anthonia Taiye presented the certificate of return to Bello on behalf of the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu.
But when Faleke was called upon to receive his certificate of return, he was no where to be found.
In his remark after the presentation, Bello promised to work towards uniting all warring factions within the party.
He also promised to make infrastructural develop his priority when he assumes office as the governor on January 27, 2016
He said, “Right from the very day we are swon in, myself and my team will make education, infrastructure and poverty alleviation our top priority and we are going to pursue the objectives to logical conclusion.
The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commisioner, Mallam Halilu Pai had earlier said that the certificate presentation marked the end in the circle of electoral process as provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010.
We Will Replace Faleke If… – Oyegun
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said that should all the overtures towards resolving the grievances of Faleke fail to yeild reasonable results, the party will replace him in line with its constitution.
Oyegun said this in Abuja yesterday when he addressed journalists on some issues of national importance at the party secretariat.
He said, “The Faleke issue, it is rather a straightforward and easy issue. We have replaced a governorship candidate. If the need arises and subject to what the law says, we will also get a deputy governorship candidate but we will cross those bridges as they arise but they have not arisen yet”.
According to Oyegun, the reason why the party has not wielded the big stick is because it is willing to accommodate the grievances of all concerned parties and find ways of resolving pending issues within a timeline.
“We are ready to bend with the expectation that everyone will simmer down over time because life has to continue, so bringing out the big stick in a situation like this is usually difficult but there will be a timeline to it. The crying, grieving and disappointment should be over because life has to continue,” he added.
On whether Faleke will be sanctioned for declaring independent candidature without consulting the party, Oyegun said, “as a political party, we simply understand the frustration that emanated from the death of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, however, it is normal for us to accommodate the immediate reactions coming from the people involved. They were at the gate of victory but was shut at their faces because of the unfortunate death of their mentor (Abubakar Audu) who would have been our governor in the state. So a lot of things which normally we would not have accepted happened but we have to accept them so long that everybody will simmer down as time passes by.”
Reacting to the Bayelsa gubernatorial election that was declared inconclusive by INEC, Oyegun said that the party was far from being satisfied by the conduct of the poll but will abide by what the umpire has said until the process is concluded.
He said, “I will say that we are far from being satisfied with the conduct of the polls but INEC has made a pronouncement and you cannot get them to take it back unless you go to court. So, we are waiting for the processes to be concluded but I must say that we have a lot of reservations about what has gone on up to this present moment but we will wait till the processes are concluded. That is when we are going to decide what our next action will be. If we win as we expect to win, the kind of reactions that we will take will be different from if the outcome goes the other way round”
Wada Inaugurates Transition Committee
In a related development, outgoing Kogi State governor Idris Wada yesterday inaugurated a transition committee to begin the process of documenting activities of his administration to ensure a smooth transition.
At the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House in Lokoja yesterday, Wada urged the committee members to give the assignment the utmost commitment required to ensure that the legacy of his administration is preserved and presented in proper perspective.
The 19-member Transition Committee is headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Olugbemiro Jegede while the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services in the office of the SSG, Mrs. Helen Arigi is to serve as its secretary.
Wada also inaugurated a 5-member Steering Committee headed by the outgoing Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi while the Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Richard Akanmode is to serve as secretary to the committee.
Inaugurating the committees, Wada said he has decided to constitute the committees early enough so that the transition from his administration to a new administration will be ‘a smooth and tidy affair’.
He urged the committee members to do their best in putting into proper perspective the performance of the government and the situation of affairs of the state ahead of the inauguration of a new administration.
In his remark, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, thanked the Governor for constituting the committees which he said is in line with the diligent and transparent disposition of the out-going administration.
He described the task of the committees as a strategic exercise aimed at putting the records of the administration straight on one hand, and protecting its legacies on the other hand.
The Steering committee is expected to receive and review the report of the transition committee for transmission to the Governor before the inauguration of a new government in January, 2016.
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